ABC Denies Permit Request

Because of legal concerns and her husband's recent alcohol-related arrests, the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission denied a new beer and wine dealer permit request by Nirmal Kaur, North Manchester.

The permit would have allowed Kaur to sell beer and wine at G&V Good Mart #2, South Main Street, Claypool. The principle nature of the business is a grocery store.

Officer Patty Fleck, ABC member, told the board she had police reports about Kuledip Singh, Kaur's husband, being arrested for intimidation, driving while intoxicated and several reports of public intoxication in Indiana. She also said there were similar reports from Michigan.

While Kaur said she would be operating the Claypool store, Fleck said Singh told her he would be operating the Claypool store and Kaur would be operating their Clark's gas station in North Manchester.

Fleck said she would have trouble approving the permit if Singh would be operating the business and he couldn't be controlled. "... I'm going to recommend the board deny (the permit)," she said.

"I'm going to be running this store," Kaur said.

"Your husband doesn't think so," Fleck said.

Another reason, Fleck said, she could not grant the permit is because Kaur is not a five-year resident of Indiana and so she doesn't qualify for the permit. Kaur said she moved to the United States from India two years ago, her husband moved to the U.S. seven or eight years ago and the couple have been married approximately 18 years.

"I hate to be so pigheaded," ABC member Gordon Vanator said, "but for years and years, Claypool hasn't had any liquor (businesses) in its corporation" and now it does and "I don't think it's an asset."

He said her grocery store would do better anyway without alcohol sales.

Fleck said that because of Singh's background, granting a permit would be detrimental to the community.

"If you haven't lived here five years, you don't qualify for an alcohol permit. With your husband's past problems, he won't qualify either. We're sorry, but you won't get an alcohol permit. In all honesty, it won't help your (business)," said ABC president Darwin Call.

The board unanimously denied the permit.

Kaur said she will operate the grocery store without the alcohol sales.

In other business, the following permit renewals were approved:

• American Legion Post 253, Ind. 13, North Webster, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.

• Ramada Plaza Hotel, East Center Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.

• Discount Package Store, Ind. 13, Pierceton, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.

• Ruby Tuesday, East Center Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.

• Tippecanoe Lake Country Club, North Kalorama Road, Leesburg, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.

• The Store, West Main Street, Atwood, beer and wine dealer permit.

• Clementine's II, Anchorage Road, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales permits.

• Parkmor Pharmacy, South Huntington Street, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.

• Knights of Columbus, Airport Industrial Park, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor retailer permit.

• Kmart, Lake City Highway, Warsaw, beer and wine dealer permit.

The following renewals were continued to the July 5 meeting:

• Wagon House Restaurant, Ind. 13, Pierceton, beer and wine and Sunday sales permits.

• Big Daddy's Sports Bar, Anchorage Road, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.

Members of the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission are president Darwin Call, Gordon Vanator, Kenneth Johnson and excise officer Patty Fleck. They meet at 2 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the county courthouse, Warsaw.